Subj : Re: New Adventures in Old Tech
To   : n2qfd
From : djatropine
Date : Sun Jul 14 2024 03:47 am

 
 n2> I can't be the only CW person in here. 
 n2> 
 n2>    It was a good time this past week with the Special Event and making
 n2> it a Ham Radio focused vacation for once. Something I did find though
 n2> was that while I was stalking my prey station for the event I came
 n2> across loads of other operators calling CQ. By this time I had swapped
 n2> by cootie (double speed) key over to the keyer so that I might stand a
 n2> chance with K2E who refused for most of the week to operate at less than
 n2> 35WPM and wasn't making much in the way of replies to slower stations. 
 n2>    I can copy at 35-40, anyone who practices can, but it's work, and
 n2> this is my hobby. 


I haven't got on the air much  due to other incidences in real life, yet
once I saw schematics for a CW QRP transceiver (based on a pixie) , powered by potatoes, I fell in love to the point that I'm forming a digital punk 
band called

 M C R

My CW Romance

High power rigs are neat yet ..  I am SLOW, yet I love  being able to
have a transeeiver  whhich can fit in a tuna fish can.



 
n2>  That being said I dialed in my keyer and kept hunting but I was sort  n2> of put off not being able to answer several SKCC calls for the change in n2> set up. Now combine that with a long smoldering desire for a crack at  n2> this I've decided I'm getting a bug.   n2>    There are loads of contrivances to slow the roll of a semi-automatic  n2> keyer such as the Vibroplex so I can work in that sweet spot of 15-20  n2> WPM where I like to hang out, but I can also answer the SKCC calls of my  n2> fellow looking for numbers and chasing that next appended letter. So,  n2> back to school for me I think, I'll have to relearn my key!   n2>   Currently I'm using a Vibrokeyer that I've got wired as double speed  n2> key and it's been really great. I'm comfortable with the hardware but I  n2> hope I'm able to convince my brain after a decade of this that I have to  n2> pick a direction now!   n2> 


 n2>   Any other Vibroplex operators out there? I'm thinking I'll use my set
 n2> up to practice sending to something like my FLDigi of PK-232 to make
 n2> sure I'm sending quality code. I've read one should vary the speed
 n2> regularly too to keep sharp.
 n2> 
 n2>   Any pointers for a new bug operator? 
 n2> 
 n2>  best 73
 n2> 

I could use some pointers myself :D s

.... Even The Dead pay taxes (and they aren't Grateful).

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